15,000 families granted asylum amnesty

The biggest asylum amnesty in British history was announced by Home Secretary David Blunkett today.

Up to 100,000 asylum-seekers will be told they can stay in Britain indefinitely in a move designed to help clear a huge backlog of cases.

A total of 15,000 families - some of whom had lost every appeal open to them and were due to be removed within weeks - are to be considered for leave to remain.

They include 12,000 families still living on benefits up to seven years after they arrived in Britain. The remaining 3,000 are self-supporting but often still eligible for legal aid.

The Home Office estimates the move will save taxpayers £180 million in benefits and accommodation alone. It has not even calculated the savings to the courts system, immigration authorities and police.

The amnesty means every asylum-seeker who arrived before October 2000 with children - or who had them in Britain before that date - can apply for leave to remain. Only those who have criminal convictions, made multiple asylum claims, or first claimed asylum in another EU country will be refused.

Mr Blunkett claimed today he was dealing with the legacy of failings in the system which left asylum-seekers able to spin out their appeals for years.

"The applications of this group pre-date the introduction of a simplified appeals process to prevent people lodging new appeals against removal on human rights grounds," he said.

"Granting this group indefinite leave to remain and enabling them to work will save taxpayers' money on support and legal aid."

Mr Blunkett was braced for a political backlash to the move and tried to draw the sting by announcing tougher conditions for new asylum-seekers.

Families refused asylum will now no longer receive benefits and accommodation if they refuse Home Office cash to return home voluntarily.

In a second "get-tough" measure, failed asylum-seekers unable to go home because of conditions in their country will get support only if they agree to leave as soon as possible.

Mr Blunkett said: "I want to ensure our relentless focus is on steadily increasing the proportion of failed asylum seekers removed from now on."

Previous "get-tough" measures have resulted in a 30 per cent increase in removals - but critics say thousands of people have "disappeared" and are living in Britain illegally.

Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said: "This decision will make Britain a magnet for asylum-seekers who now know that even if their cases are rejected they could be allowed to stay."

However, Keith Best, head of the independent Immigration Advisory Service, said: "The only way to make a fresh start is to grant a kind of amnesty."